Two drug dealers have been jailed and their supply to Ashford dismantled following an investigation by Kent Police’s County Lines and Gangs Team.
Kriston Marshall, 31, and Charlie Bright, 23, were sentenced to five years and six months’ and three years and two months’ imprisonment respectively, following a trial at Canterbury Crown Court.
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Last year, digital forensic analysts identified three telephone numbers being used to send bulk messages to known drug users between 25 June and 12 October.
Detectives identified that Marshall was in control of the phones and officers subsequently carried out search warrants at a number of addresses and seized quantities of cocaine and heroin, as well as a number of burner phones, drug paraphernalia and a knuckleduster.
Marshall and Bright were consequently arrested for being involved in the supply of class A drugs.
A later examination of the confiscated mobile phones identified coded communications between Marshall and consumers, relating to drugs orders.
The network mainly served Ashford but stretched to Canterbury and as far as London.
On 18 October 2023, Marshall, from Ashford, was charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and being concerned in the supply of heroin. Bright, also from Ashford, was charged with possession with the intent to supply heroin and possession with the intent to supply cocaine. He pleaded guilty to the charges, but Marshall denied the allegations but was later convicted at a trial. Both were subsequently remanded in custody until they were sentenced on 4 June 2024 at Canterbury Crown Court.
Investigating officer, PC Samantha Ward, said:
‘Marshall and Bright ran an extensive drug supply network that took advantage of drug users, all to fund their own lifestyle.
‘It remains a force priority to dismantle county lines. We remain alert to new evidence, including phone numbers and text messages, so as to quickly apprehend perpetrators of drugs-related crimes and bring them swiftly to justice.’